From Peking to Bengal Summary and Analysis

Great Khan sends Marco Polo on a four month trip from Khan-balik, or Peking, west in Cathay on his way to Bengal. Ten miles brings him to river Pulisanghin which is crossed by a large bridge of marble decorated with marble lion statues. Thirty miles across is the commercial silk-producing city of Cho-caun at a fork in the road. The west branch takes five days through a thriving area to Ak-balik, which is the outer limit of the Great Khan's hunting grounds. Five days farther to Tai-yuan-fu is a kingdom and capital with the same name where equipment for the Great Khan's armies, wine and silk is made. An industrial city called P'ing-yang-fu is seven days through pleasant, thriving land and two days more is castle Caichu. The Golden King builds Caichu where he is...